Light bulb socket



LIGHT BULB SOCKET Sept 29', 1942 w. B. TINGLE Filed Julytl', 1940 IN VENTOR.

Bw I f7/64%@ 6%@- Awhich iatented Sept. 29, 1942 LIGHT BULB SOCKET Wyatt B. Tingle, Chicago, lil., assignor toTingstol Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a 'corporation of Illinois Application July 17, 1940, serial No. 345,917

' sclaims. (01.,173-350 The present invention relates to an improved type of socket fixture of the type employed for standing side sections provided on one edge with screw thread retaining prongs and on their opposite edges with catch elements which cooperate with the space between opposite wing sections to form a bayonet type slot and hook.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a socket of the type described, in which a single blank of metal is stamped and formed into a base portion having end extensions and complementary side sections which are bent upwardly into interrupted cylindrical formation, the base member having a central orifice adapted to receive the contact end of a bulb adjacent its insulation from the remainder of the bulb, the wing members being provided with oppositely positioned screw thread receiving prongs and forming bayonet slots together, and there being provided a separate resilient metal strip insulated from the base member and constituting a resilient contact with the end of `a bulb extending through the base member.

Still another object is to provide a socket member shaped from a metal sheet and having an integral clamping portion on its base engaging a separate and insulated contact member and positioning the latter adjacent'the contact end of a bulb mounted in the socket.

These and other objects will be evident upon a consideration of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a socket blank constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a completed socket formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the socket shown in Fig. 2 with a bulb of the screw threadl type operatively positioned in the socket;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the socket taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a bulb of -the bayonet slot type in operative position in the socket;

Fig. 6 is a lsectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 'l is a bottom plan view of Fig. 4. f

Light bulbs and radio bulbs have two general types of construction for retaining the bulbs releasably in a socket member. One of these types is of screw thread construction and the other type is provided with a smooth cylindrical mounting portion having pins adapted to be engaged inthe bayonet type slot. Many different types of socket constructions have been suggested for retaining bulbs of these types.

In the construction shown in the drawing the socket is formed by cutting a blank' of metal such as thin sheet steel into the conguration shown in Fig. 1. The resulting blank has a body formed of a base portion I0 having an end extension on one side provided with the slits I2 and an end extension I3 on its opposite side provided with double perforations I4 for mounting purposes. In the center of the base member I0 is provided an orifice I5 of such size as to receive the end contact of a bulb to be mounted in the socket adg jacent the insulation portion thereof. as will be -explained hereafter.

ladjacent the edge I'i to provide a prong I8, and

this prong is bowed inwardly slightly as may be seen in Fig. 4. The edge I9 opposite the edge I1 is provided adjacent its inner side with an undercut hook portion 2li.

On the side of the base member opposite the Wing section I6 is provided a second and complementary wing section 2|. The wing section 2| has on the inner portion of its edge 22 an undercut hook portion 23 similar to the hook member 20. On the edge 24 opposite the edge 22 the wing member 2l is cut along a line perpendicular to the base portion to provide a prong 25 which is bowed inwardly as described with respect to the prong I3.

-It will be noted that the wing members I6 and 2| are of complementary construction. More particularly, the wing' member I6 has a prong adjacent the end extension I3 while the wing extension 2| has an undercut hook adjacent this end extension. Also, the wing section I6 has a hook adjacent the end extension II while the wing member 2| has a prong adjacent its latter end extension.

After formation of the blank in the manner described the wing members I6 and 2| are deformed upwardly into the shape of an interrupted cylinder having diametrically opposed slots. The edge I9 of the wing member I6 cooperates with the edge 24 of the Awing member 2l to form one of these slots, while the edge I'I of the wing member I6 cooperates with the edge 22 of the wing member 2| in forming another of the slots. y The portion of the extension II between slits I2 is deformed downwardly for receipt of a resilient contact member 25. This member, which may be composed of a conductive metal such as a copper alloy, is slipped into an insulating sleeve 21 and this assembly is projected through the retaining opening formed by the bent-out metal between slits I2 and the bottom of the socket. To retain the contact member in position, the bent-out metal betweeny slits I2 may be punched into firm engagement therewith after assembly of the contact member in the manner described.

The end 28 of the resilient contact is positioned to be pressed outwardly by and to resiliently engage the contact end 29 of a bulb 30 mounted in the socket as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

It will be seen that the structure described comprises a minimum number of parts which are formed and assembled in a simple manner.

A feature of the socket is that it will receive bulbs of the screw thread type as well as bulbs depending upon the bayonet type of securement.l

When it is desired to mount a bulb 30 of the screw type in the sockets the bulb may be screwed into the sockets by engagement of the threads 3| with the prongs 25 and I8 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. 'I'he bulb is screwed into .the socket until the insulation portion 32 of the bulb contacts the edges of the opening I5. In this position the contact end 29 of the bulb resiliently engages the metal contact member 28, thereby establishing the second contact necessary for operation of the bulb by an electric current. It will be understood that the other contact is made through engagement ofthe bulb with the wing members I 6 and 2| and the projections or prongs I8 and 25.

Since the prongs I8 and 25 are resilient is is possible to mount the bulb in the socket simply by pressing it inwardly. The prongs I8 and 25 will snap over successiveA threads until the bulb is in its nal position, although a slight turning may be necessary to tighten the bulb in the socket. However, the prongs are positioned so as to prevent direct withdrawal of the bulb and to require the bulbs to be unscrewed for removal. If desired, the prongs may be sharpened or pointed to further assist in preventing direct withdrawal or loosening of the bulb.

A further feature of the socket is that it also may be used in mounting bulbs of the bayonet type, as has been stated. In mounting the latter type bulb in the sockets, the bulb indicated at 33 in Figs. and 6 is positioned so that the projections 34 on the bulb register with the slot formed by the edges I3 and 24 on one side of the socket and the edges II and 22 on the other side of the socket. The bulb then is pressed downwardly until the projections; 34 are beneath the hook members and 23. In this position the contactend 29 of the bulb will be in resilient engagement with the contact portion 28 of the strip 26. The bulb then is twisted slightly until the projections 34 pass beneath and engage the hook members 20 and 23. Since the prongs I8 and 25 are resilient they offer no objectionable resistance to the mounting of this type bulb, and the bulb may be withdrawn simply by twisting the bulb so that the projections 34 are out of engagement with the hooks 20 and 23 and retracting the bulb from thesocket. Thereafter a bulb of the same type or a bulb of the screw thread type may be mounted in the socket, as desired.

A further advantage of the improved socket is that in addition to holding bulbs of the screw type as well as the bayonet type, the lamp filament positions of both of these types of bulbs is the same, this position being as close to the base of the socket as the construction of the bulb will permit.

It will be recognized that many changes may be made in the specific structure and method described herein for purposes of explanation. For instance, the prong members may be cut to provide a semi-circular under edge which may eliminate the necessity of providing separate edge notches 20 and 23. Such changes are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a socket, which comprises shaping a sheet of metal to form a blank having an orificed base portion provided with an end extension having spaced slits and complementary wing sections each of which is provided with a prong and an opposite edge notch, deforming said wing extensions upwardly intb interrupted cylindrical shape with the complementary edges of opposed wing sections forming a slot, deforming said prongs inwardly, deforming the metal between the slits in said end extension, and frictionally engaging with said deformed metal an insulated resilient conductor having an end section adjacent the orice of said base portion.

2. A socket, comprising a body portion formed from a single piece of metal shaped to provide an orificed base having an end extension and upstanding complementary wing members on each side of the base portion shaped into interrupted cylindrical form, opposite edges of said Wing members being notched adjacent the base, and complementary edge portions of said wing members having inwardly extending prongs, and a separate, insulated resilient conductor secured to said end extension and having a contact portion positioned adjacent the orifice in said base.

3. The method of forming a socket, which comprises shaping a sheet of metal to form a blank having an orificed base portion provided with an end extension and with complementary wing sections each of which sections is provided with a prong and an opposite edge notch, deforming said wing extensions upwardly into interrupted cylindrical shape with the complementary edges of opposed wing sections forming a slot, deforming said prongs inwardly, deforming a portion of said end extension-to provide a retaining opening for the insertion of a conductor, and frictionally engaging with said deformed portion an insulated resilient conductor having an end section adjacent the orifice of said base portion.

WYA'I'I B. TINGLE. 

